Stonefish envenomation

Background

Stonefish

• Synanceia genus of fish of the family Synanceiidae
  • Venom is dangerous and even fatal to humans (possibly most venomous fish known)
• Found in the coastal regions of the Indo-Pacific.

Clinical Features

Extensive erythema, gross swelling up to the entire index finger, dorsum, and distal third forearm from stonefish envenomation.

• Local erythema, ecchymosis, swelling
• Intense, sharp pain
• Systemic toxicity:
  • Hypotension, tachycardia, arrhythmia, syncope, vomiting, and pulmonary edema

Differential Diagnosis

Marine toxins, envenomations, and bites

• Toxins
  • Ciguatera
  • Scombroid
  • Tetrodotoxin (e.g. pufferfish)
  • Shellfish poisoning
    • Amnesic shellfish poisoning
    • Diarrheal shellfish poisoning
    • Neurotoxic shellfish poisoning
    • Paralytic shellfish poisoning
• Stingers
  • Stingray injury
• Venomous fish
  • Cone shell
  • Lionfish
  • Sea urchins
  • Crown-of-Thorns Starfish
  • Stonefish
  • Other: Catfish, zebrafish, scorpion fish
• Nematocysts
  • Coral reef
  • Fire coral
  • Jellyfish (Cnidaria)
    • Box jellyfish
      • Irukandji syndrome
    • Sea wasp
  • Portuguese man-of-war
  • Sea anemones
  • Seabather's eruption
• Phylum porifera (sponges)
• Bites
  • Alligator and crocodile attacks
  • Octopus bite
  • Shark bite
• Infections
  • Vibrio species in saltwater
  • Aeromonas species in freshwater

Evaluation

Workup

• No specific testing available

Diagnosis

• Clinical diagnosis

Management

• Clean wound, update tetanus, remove retained tissue
• One fifth of wounds develop local infection, but prophylactic antibiotics remain controversial
• Immerse extremity in hot water (45 C) for 30-60 minutes
• Severe toxicity can be treated with antivenin obtained through poison control

See Also

• Marine toxins and envenomations